Fish Kill

The effects of Minnesota’s prolonged heatwave are having an impact on area lakes and rivers with several reports of fish kills. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources announced on Friday that there have been 212 fish mortality reports this year spanning 102 bodies of water statewide. Many of the fish kills were reported during last week’s heatwave. Public utilities and fisheries have recorded surface water temperatures of 86 degrees and higher in several Minnesota lakes and the Mississippi River. The DNR says cold water fish, including lake cisco and other salmonids, become stressed with water temperatures exceed 75 degrees, and cool water species like northern pike can handle temperatures up to 84 degrees. If you happen to discover a fish kill, you are asked to report it to the Minnesota DNR on their website.